This year is off to a very good start!  I am so thrilled!  I think we finally have a smooth running homeschool.  Not that our first two years weren't good, but I can honestly say that none of the jitters are there this year.  Bridgette has gotten right into her school work, and overall she knows what is expected of her.   I have no idea what may be down the road for this year - I'm sure there will be curves and bumps and possibly a pot hole or two - but I know who's in control and will trust him to get us through whatever obstacles may pop up.

I am especially thrilled with notebooking - I had hoped that Bridgette would take to it very easily (tho I wasn't sure if she'd say stuff like "I don't know what to do")...and she has.  She's already done a couple pages about Colonial life and they came out great!  She really enjoys showing what she knows with a sense of humor...and I don't know if I should ask her to be serious some too, or just let her have freedom with  it all.

I don't know if this is what's bothering me...the fact that this is our last weekend before we start school, and things are really going to pick up now.  I didn't want to get so involved with activities that we get burned out, but I'm sort of feeling like the walls are going to close in pretty quick.  So here I am hoping to get myself excited again about starting school.  

I've already blogged about History, Bible and Math.  So what's left,  we have Language Arts and Science and "extra curricular" activites.

Language Arts - we are using Total Language Plus again this year.  The books we are going to use are: Julie of the Wolves, The Twenty-One Balloons and Swiss Family Robinson.   Because I haven't been impressed with the grammar section of TLP, we are doing a separate grammar workbook for grades 7-8 called Building Grammar.  We will also be going thru an e-book writing program called Igniting Your Writing.

Science - we are going to use Apologia Zoology 2 "Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day".  Even tho Bridgette is technically a "middle schooler" we decided to go with this "elementary" science, first because I really liked the look of it...and second because Bridgette hasn't had higher math yet we felt that we should wait on upper levels of science that might include higher math.  And last but certainly not least, marine science was what Bridgette had specifically requested to study this year!  We are also planning to do some extra "unit" studies on some of those "swimming creatures" such as dolphins, killer whales, manatees, sea turtles, sharks, starfish and jellifish.

Extra Curricular activities - well this is where some of the business come into the picture.  We have joined Homegrown 4H this year...and so Bridgette is doing a couple of projects the first part of the year.  She'll be going to a cooking class once a month starting in September through March.  She is also doing a photography poject.  She went to a class today, and will be going on several field trips to have hands on practice.  Plus we will be doing several Living Arts field trips with our homeschool group -  going to see some plays -  Anne of Green Gables in September,  The Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood in October, CSI Live in November,  The Hundred Dresses and Holes in March & April.

Plus we are involved in a play that is practicing for a performance in November...called Freedom's Journey.  It is based on the book Hind's Feet on High Places.  I am playing Aunt Dismal.  My husband is involved with set construction and painting as well as with some of the Audio/Visual stuff. 

So you can be praying for our family - that God gives us the strength to make it through everything.  Maybe it doesn't seem like a whole lot to some of you - but for us a decidedly "homebody" type family I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.    And I thought blogging about it was supposed to help me feel better.  Hmm...not yet.  But I also think there are some other unresolved issues rumbling around in my brain at the moment...so maybe I need to go and browse some other HSB blogs and get inspired.

The following is from volume 9 of the Math-U-See newsletter...I thought it was worth sharing even if you don't use this curriculum - Steve Demme (founder of MUS) shares words of wisdom that can apply to any aspect of homeschooling.  We just need to remember who is in control and not try and do it in our own strength!  If you use MUS and don't get the newsletter you can sign up here at  Math-U-See  scroll down to where it says sign up here for Math-U-See newsletter and sign up today - it's free!

Teaching Tip

Moses, Moms, and Math

Moses didn't feel qualified to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.  He was frank with God about his perception of his abilities. Moses' questions may be summarized as, "Who am I? What shall I say unto them? They will not believe me. I am not eloquent."

In reading through this interaction between Moses and God, it is encouraging to note that as Moses trots out one question after another, God patiently answers each with a reminder of who He is and what He will do for him.

It is only when Moses says, "Let someone else do it," that God gets angry.

We know from our perspective, with our 20/20 hindsight, that Moses was uniquely qualified to do exactly what God had called him to do.  His education in Egypt coupled with a strong Levitical heritage, seasoned by forty years in the wilderness, and enhanced by his experience as a shepherd, made for a peerless candidate who could and would lead the children of Israel out of the wilderness and into the promised land.

Guess what?  God has uniquely equipped you to teach your children.  You were created before the foundation of the world for this very work.  This good work.  The eternal work of training, teaching, shepherding, and raising your kids to live forever with Jesus.

And ... for teaching your kids math.

At Math-U-See, one of our goals is to train teachers and provide them with tools to make math clear and concrete.  The original target audience of the video instruction, formerly on VHS and now on DVD, was parents and teachers.  And while students enjoy watching me teach math, I hope you will continue to watch the DVDs, as well.  You know more than you think.  You have been wonderfully endowed and furnished to teach your children.  Your children need what you have to offer.  While I may understand math, you understand your kids.

So when you are tempted to be discouraged or feel unqualified, remember Moses.  And Moses' God.  He has called and prepared you for this very journey.  He doesn't call the equipped; he equips the called.

May God bless and encourage each of you for this upcoming year,

Steve

May God bless you as you homeschool this year!

Well since i've already blogged about what our History plans are...I figured I'd post more school subject plans for this year.

We are going to be going thru the book of Acts.  The plan is to do one chapter a week...actually reading it several times.  First she'll read it on her own, then we'll read it together and she'll draw something that stands out to her from that chapter, then she'll listen to the chapter on cd.  I also have a guideline for the themes of Acts that I will use so that we can discuss the chapters as we go along.  Then after we've gone thru all of Acts (by the end of the year) we will watch the Book of Acts Visual Bible dvd.   I'm also planning a few weeks in the middle to do a bible study on the Gifts of the Spirit.   At church about a year ago we had a bible study on the Gifts of the Spirit so, I'm using notes from that study.  It works out nicely for a 3 week period when you break the gifts down into their categories of revealing gifts, power gifts and speaking gifts.  To start out each day I'm planning to use a devotional book by Neil Anderson called "Daily in Christ" with her as well.

For math we are continuing with Math U See.  This year we are doing Delta, which basically is division.  I always feel like I have to explain our situation with math because she's 12 and technically in 7th grade and so "should be" farther ahead than she is.  When she was in public school she did fairly well - got good grades in math - but she sort of had a math anxiety and she would take a long time doing problems.  So we decided that we'd go back to the beginning - to fill in any gaps that she might of had.   So in the last two years she worked her way thru Alpha, Beta and Gamma to get "caught up" .   At this point she has done really well with Math U See and I think even tho she still isn't thrilled about math, she does understand it better.  We are going to take our time with Delta, as she hadn't done a whole lot of division by the time she left public school, so it will be a bit more challenging then the others. 

As we go along this year I'll try to update as to how things are going with each of her subjects.

Well only 1 week left till we start schooling again...for me summer has flown by.  But this year is the first time since we've been homeschooling that Bridgette is actually ready to get back to school!  She's excited for some of the thngs we are going to be studying this year, so that should make my job a whole lot easier!

I can't believe it's after midnight!  I was going to get off the computer because it was late and we were having a thunderstorm - but it seems that the storm is passing and so here I am still.    But I wanted to post about yesterdays "happenings".   

We did indeed go to the homegrown 4H thing...and Bridgette is signed up for a cooking "class" (which I guess they call them projects?) that will be once a month.  Then she is signed up for Photography with her friends Jessica & Carrie.  They go to one class, then there are 3 field trips they will go on to take pictures!  It should be interesting.   The one thing that Bridgette was actually interested in was Marine Science (since that is what we are basically studying for science this year) - but it isn't until January sometime I guess - so we'll have to wait for that one.

The meeting for the play went fairly well...I now have my script, and will begin practices next week.  I only have 5 lines to learn so it shouldn't be to difficult!

Today was an sort of icky day - I just felt rather blah most of the day.  Brian had to work late...so my parents picked Bridgette & I  up for bible study.  Brian didn't get to church til almost 9...and I unfortuately was out of sorts with him (not that I was mad at him for having to work late or anything...it was just one of those things where he could have just looked at me funny and I would have been  disagreeable with him!)  Oh, why do I get like that sometimes?  The poor guy has been out straight lately, and he certainly doesn't need grief from me!

After we got home things were better...and we watched some of last night's olympics that we had taped.  I really enjoy watching gymnastics - I've always wanted to be able to tumble like that!  So we saw the USA girls team get a Silver medal...despite a few disappointing routines, I thnk they did very well!

Well - Like the title of my post says I should REALLY go to bed NOW!